In the early twentieth century, medical researchers and entrepreneurs began searching for substances that could kill pathogenic microorganisms—such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses—while leaving the infected host unharmed. Paul Ehrlich, a German scientist, coined the term "magic bullet" to describe these substances. He demonstrated...
Polynesian explorers were the first humans to reach the islands now known as New Zealand (or Aotearoa) approximately 700 years ago. Pollen and charcoal records show that over 80% of the country was once covered in dense forests before human arrival. However, today, forest cover...
FAIRR, which stands for Farm Animal Investment Risk and Return, was established in 2015 by Jeremy Coller, whom Forbes Magazine recognizes as one of the most influential private equity managers. Over the past decade, Coller has transformed FAIRR into one of the largest investor groups...
Declawing pet cats, or onychectomy, is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia that permanently removes a cat's claws. This procedure entails amputating the last bone in each toe and is analogous to removing the last joint of a human finger. The procedure is reported...
About fifty years ago, a research study found that men with dogs were more successful in persuading women to go on dates than men without dogs. The presence of a dog seemed to signal good character. Thirty years later, another study concluded that pets act...
Numerous predictions exist about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on various aspects of human life. One significant area where AI is already making a difference is language translation. It is being used for everything from providing subtitles for video productions to helping tourists communicate...
The first time we met Mason, he was six weeks old, having just arrived at the airport like some high-maintenance celebrity. And by that, I mean he incessantly barked his little Westie head off while waiting for us in the holding area. The attendant handed...
A new book by philosopher Jeff Sebo presents a series of arguments for expanding the group of entities regarded as moral patients to include all conscious beings. Sebo contends that consciousness is the key factor distinguishing which entities should be included in a broader moral...
On January 27, 2025, the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE) gazetted (that is, opened for formal public comment) a new report on the management of elephants in the country entitled the National Elephant Heritage Strategy. According to the preamble, this draft...
WellBeing News has periodically carried articles on global and US dog populations. For example, in the November 2020 Issue, we included an article summarizing several core findings from projects carried out by WellBeing International and others over the past ten years. For example, we noted that...
